Support The Daily Orange this holiday season! The money raised between now and the end of the year will go directly toward aiding our students. Donate today.

The holiday season radiates warmth: mugs of hot cocoa, fuzzy blankets, virtual fireplaces and comfort food. But among the season’s cozy staples, nostalgic wintertime movies are the centerpiece.

Throwing on a holiday classic, whether by yourself or with the whole family, can spark beautiful memories of the past, while simultaneously creating new memories for the future.

This list contains older titles and more recent ones, but any pick is guaranteed to make you smile during this joyous time of year. (“Die Hard” is not included on the list, but for the record, I do think it’s a Christmas movie.)

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946, dir. Frank Capra)
“It’s a Wonderful Life” follows George Bailey (James Stewart) — a truly benevolent man — who spends his life giving back to his hometown of Bedford Falls (inspired by Seneca Falls).

When George begins to regret his altruistic life, a guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), visits him. Clarence shows him what Bedford Falls would have looked like if George was never born. In a pivotal moment, Clarence explains that George positively impacted so many people’s lives.

Labeled as one of the greatest films ever made, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a powerful reminder of the value of kindness and appreciating the present.

“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947, dir. George Seaton)
Santa Claus is undoubtedly an iconic Christmas figure, and “Miracle on 34th Street” is all about his existence.

When jolly old Kris Kringle’s (Edmund Gwenn) sanity is questioned, lawyer Fred Gailey (John Payne) must convince the courts that Kringle is the real Santa. Gwenn’s performance is truly heartfelt, even earning him the 1948 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Because of Kringle’s enthusiasm, joyful personality and love of Christmas, there isn’t a film that captures the season’s magic quite like “Miracle on 34th Street.”

“A Christmas Story” (1983, dir. Bob Clark)
There’s a reason why TNT and TBS play “A Christmas Story” for 24 hours straight on Christmas Day; it’s a classic. Nine-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) asks for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, but is discouraged by every adult, saying, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” Eventually, Ralphie’s wish comes true — but, the adults were right. “A Christmas Story” has a vintage vibe, pulling the audience right into the 1940s.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989, dir. Jeremiah S. Chechik)
“Christmas Vacation” is the third installment in the “National Lampoon’s Vacation” series, centering around the Griswold family on the days leading up to Christmas.

Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) remains calm, even with eccentric extended family members staying with them, but he has a complete meltdown when he isn’t given his annual Christmas bonus check from work. Chase’s antics in “Christmas Vacation” are off the wall and hysterical.

“Home Alone” (1990, dir. Chris Columbus)
When Kevin McCallister’s (Macaulay Culkin) family travels to Paris for Christmas, they accidentally leave him behind. Then, the 8-year-old is tasked with defending his Chicago home from two burglars, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), and he devises homemade booby traps to stop them.

Along the way, Kevin finds out that the alleged murderer, Marley (Roberts Blossom), is a kind, old man, and Kevin realizes how much he loves his family, especially his mom, Kate McCallister (Catherine O’Hara). Aided by John Williams’ score, “Home Alone” is a fantastic, heartwarming time (don’t miss the tarantula scene).

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000, dir. Ron Howard)
Adapted from Dr. Seuss’ 1957 book, Howard’s film tells the classic tale of a green, hairy menace, the Grinch (Jim Carrey), who steals Christmas presents and decorations from the fictional town of Whoville.

Bringing the infamous character to life is no easy task, especially with Boris Karloff’s iconic voicing of the Grinch in the 1966 animated film, but Carrey’s zany performance made the film unforgettable.

Arguably the most quotable Christmas movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is the most fun I have watching TV during the holidays — and starting on Dec. 12, you can catch it in theaters for its 25th anniversary.

“Elf” (2003, dir. Jon Favreau)
“Elf” follows Buddy (Will Ferrell), a human who was raised by elves and works in Santa’s workshop at the North Pole. Buddy travels to Manhattan to find his real dad, Walter Hobbs (James Caan), who is selfish and grumpy — the opposite of Christmas cheer.

The film is jam-packed with hilarious and heartening moments, fueled by Ferrell’s exuberant performance — he walks around New York City in an elf costume and even eats chewed gum that he finds stuck to a railing. And, “Elf” may be the most quotable Christmas movie: “You stink. You smell like beef and cheese. You don’t smell like Santa,” Buddy tells a department store Santa.

Honorable Mentions
I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out the classic animated films of my childhood: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.” Despite these all being more than 50 years old, they hold up well and are so fun to revisit.

And, I can’t forget “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Don’t be fooled by the 25-minute timestamp, this cartoon is one of the deepest movies you can watch this holiday season. It’s a reminder that Christmas isn’t about the presents or materialistic desires; it’s about the birth of Jesus Christ and spending time with loved ones.

Whether you choose a classic from the 1940s, a more modern movie or something in between, whatever you throw on from this list should make this holiday season memorable.

Published on December 10, 2025 at 9:56 pm